Jamaica Track & Field News & Updates

Jamaican Olympian Keith Gardner, who was a member of the bronze medal-winning 4x400m team at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, died yesterday at the age of 82 at the St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston, New Jersey.

According to reports, he died peacefully at approximately 5 p.m. with his wife (Fay Stiebel-Gardner) and his three children (Maxine, Christine and Keith Jr) holding his hand. Almost two weeks ago, Gardner did coronary artery bypass surgery, but he then suffered two strokes which left him on a respirator.

As a child, Gardner attended Black River High School. He went on to win a gold medal in the 120 yards race at the 1954 Common-wealth Games in Vancouver, Canada, and was outstanding for Jamaica at the 1958 Common-wealth Games in Cardiff, Wales where he won gold medals in the 100 yards and 120 yards hurdles, a silver medal in the 220 yards and a bronze medal in the 4×440 yards relay.